More than four decades of deferred maintenance had taken its toll on 2766 Mathews St. in Berkeley. On top of that, the rooms were boxy, poorly illuminated and largely devoid of charm, said Tracy Palma of Stea Realty Group, who is listing the home for $895,000.

“It was a total gut-job,” said Palma. “Now it has a flexible floor plan conducive to all types of living.”

An interior designer who wishes to remain anonymous is behind the meticulous rehabilitation, Palma said. The concept was to create a contemporary Craftsman with a flexible, yet practical, floor plan.

“The designer connected the whole home,” Palma said. “The only room from the original design is the office, and it acts as sort of a secret getaway.”

That office, set in a split level of the Berkeley home, overlooks the lower level and includes a spiral staircase connecting it to the laundry room.

Past the flagstone entryway, the 2,430-square-foot home opens directly to a light-filled great room with many nods to Craftsman style. Stylish build-ins including coat hooks, wainscoting, shelving, wide moldings and a box-beam ceiling are found in the welcoming space. An elegant wood-burning fireplace warms the room, and cherry wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and travertine tile floors adorn the adjacent kitchen.

The lowest level of the home offers a room that can serve as either a master suite or a family room. Its ceiling is paneled with wood original to the home constructed in the 1920s, and the bathroom includes a steam shower.

French doors off the suite open to a low-maintenance backyard with both a redwood deck and a canopy. The space is irrigated by automated sprinklers, while a tankless water heater and dual-pane windows helpe reduce the home’s carbon footprint.

Three bedrooms, a lounge area, vaulted ceilings, a full bathroom and multiple balconies crown the top floor of the Berkeley home, a residence with finishes and designs that were greatly influenced by photographs posted to Houzz a site devoted to decorating and remodeling.

“Every room in that home is like a picture you’d see on that site,” Palma said. “The designer took the inspiration to make something that was a cross between a Craftsman and a rustic cabin.”